The People's Voice: Godspeed to the people's bulldog, David Giuliani

Sauk Valley Media News Editor David Giuliani has been front and center in leading the newsroom's watchdog attitude. To the delight of some and scorn of others, Giuliani will be be leaving his position for another job closer to his home.

Which one, you ask? The one featuring the indictment, "You need me on that wall."

Well, you've needed David Giuliani on that wall. Maybe he's more like Howard Stern – hang with me for a second – in that you can't help but read, eager to find out what he has to say.

You know what? This little exercise is futile. There's no sense making comparisons. Try as we may, we'll never find another bulldog like Davey.

I admired his investigative tenacity from afar from the sports department, and have had the pleasure of working with him in news since November. No matter where I hung out, who I ran into, I was constantly reminded that Davey has been one of the most important people in the Sauk Valley for the past few years.

The guy cranks out more than a dozen stories every week. Even since adding daytime news editor to his title, the bylines keep coming. He asks the tough questions. All of them.

But perhaps what's impressed me most is Davey's ability to remain as vigilant and tenacious as ever, even while the venom is flying.

I can't imagine any SVM employee has digested more of it, yet Davey is on our Facebook page daily, keeping an eye out for tips while inevitably taking his lumps – some of them founded, some of them not so much.

As expected, the armchair journalists were sure to get in their parting shots, getting nasty while commenting on Davey's last SVM column, a heartfelt – and, as always, thoroughly explanatory – goodbye.

One commenter wished him luck in his new janitorial position. Another hoped the next person SVM hires "knows what the heck they are doing." My favorite, if that is the right word, is the gentleman who commented, "don't let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya."

A stronger man than I would deftly discard such comments. But, contrary to some readers' beliefs, Davey is a champion at hearing things from all sides. Still, I hope he re-reads the comments that called him "an excellent reporter" and "a bulldog for the taxpayers" and assured him that "there are people that can read your stories and not actually blame YOU for the content."

Davey bought a home in Wauconda a few months ago and has been commuting more than 4 hours round trip every day, refusing to relinquish his duty as a watchdog for the Sauk Valley. But he admits he's experienced a strange disconnection now that he no longer lives in the area. That's the mark of someone who genuinely cares about his responsibility to the readership.

He would admit to you that he's as good a feature writer as I am an investigative reporter.

But he doesn't have any illusions about who he is, or what he does. That's why I say, Kudos, Mr. Giuliani. Wait till the folks in Grayslake get a load of you. As for those who have flown bad practice under the radar? Sic ’em!